An 8GB iPod touch will be The Grand Prize of the raffle. The touch is Apple's top-of-the-line iPod.

The Annual Holiday Party and Silent Raffle will be held on the third Tuesday of the month. The Grand Prize of the auction will be an 8GB iPod touch (this item is for current members only, and membership enrollment will be open before the meeting), but there'll be plenty of other Mac related hardware/software up for grabs. The holiday party is the yearly fundraiser event with food and merriment, a chance to help PMUG and possibly win Apple related products.

The Silent Raffle is similar to a swap meet, but more organized and fair. Everyone at the meeting can donate any Apple related product and buy raffle tickets. Donations are asked to be in working condition and if not won at the raffle, donors are required to bring the items home with them.

Silent Auction items will be picked up: e-mail Rob Golding at sagittae@mac.com. Drop-off is at the loading dock from 6-7 PM (no parking in the loading dock.) Remember that an item if it isn't taken you get it back. Tickets for the auction are 12 for $5.00 and members get one free ticket.

At 8 pm, the raffle opens. Each bidder places ticket(s) in cups next to the items they desire. The bidder must be present to win. No items can be held or shipped. The emcee picks one ticket from each cup and awards the winner their prize. Everyone has a chance to win and can submit more than one ticket for any item.

Our holiday party is open only to members (but you may bring a friend who's interested in joining — it's only $30!)

November 11, 2008 — Sipping from the Internet Firehose: Reducing Information Overload with Really Simple Syndication (RSS) on the Mac

We all have favorite Websites we frequently visit and topics which interest us. But keeping up with things can be a chore considering the abundance of information, multiple Websites to check, and irregular updates.

However, the recent technology of Really Simple Syndication (RSS) now makes keeping on top of things easy! RSS brings selective information to you whenever there is something new from many sources: Websites, news sources, blogs, and more--all in a simple and distraction-free environment.

Learn how to use the built-in RSS features of two programs which come with the Mac: Safari and Apple Mail. Also learn how the features of NetNewsWire, a more advanced but easier to use (and free) program, makes RSS even more useful!

No matter if you follow a handful or hundreds of Websites, RSS quickly gathers information and keeps you informed without being overwhelming.

The presentation will be given by PMUG's Webmaster, Michael Blank, who produces two Podcasts for PMUG: the Monthly Meetings Podcast and the DIALOGcast. Michael is a Website designer for the Princeton Internet Group.

Rob Golding will also give an overview of new features in Office:2008. He will focus on the newest items added to Office along with some helpful suggestions regarding Office 2008 vs the prior versions.

NOTE: The Nikon Capture NX program and serial code were given to members a few months ago during a general meeting. Our October speaker, Michael Rubin, demonstrated Capture NX2 and is making the upgrade available to members for $109.95. Members who did not get a code can view the code in the members area so the upgrade may be purchased.

September 9, 2008 — Using Adobe CS3 Programs Together in a Workflow

Alison Cattelona, CEO of Mobile Mac & PC Training, will present the Adobe CS3 Workflow: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat and Bridge. Alison will demonstrate how the CS3 programs can work together to bring out your creative side. A few tips and tricks will also be given along the way.

Also about the presenter...

Alison Cattelona is an Adobe Certified Instructor and hand-picked to be part of the exclusive Adobe-freelancer program and is a co-rep of the New Jersey InDesign User Group. She has been a computer instructor since 1993 teaching over 30 desktop applications. Her experience comes from a solid background in graphic arts including paste-up and mechanicals, design and art direction. She took the solid production experience she gained having worked in a print shop to her art director/designer positions within the advertising and marketing industries.

The freelance work that followed rounded out her expertise in the many industries, applications and techniques that she uses today in her instruction. Alison grew Mobile Mac & PC Training to be the highly successful, multi-platform, multi-application training company it is today.

August 12, 2008 — Run Windows software on the Mac with VMWare Fusion and CrossOver

Ben Britt will discuss two software products in the Macintosh virtualization market: VMware Fusion and CrossOver, which have similarity in features and functions. Both products allow Windows operating system programs to run on the Macintosh at the same time as Mac programs operate.

Also about the presenter...

Presenter Ben Britt has used Macs since 1992 beginning with an LCII and Pagemaker 5. His background is in logistics management, studio photography, publishing, database design, network administration, and technical sales..

The PMUG Summer Picnic will be held on Saturday, July 19th from 1 - 5 p.m. at the The American Legion Post 414 off Route 206 in Lawrenceville New Jersey. The address is 100 Berwyn Place, Lawrenceville.
Directions:

From Princeton take Route 206 South for approximately 4 miles, you will pass Interstate 95 and Rider University. Make a left onto Berwyn Place and the American Legion Post will be on your left after a 1/4
mile.

From Interstate 95/295 exit onto Route 206 South. Take 206 South for approximately 1 mile. Make a left onto Berwyn Place and the American Legion Post will be on your left after a 1/4 mile.

Popular local technology speaker Joel May returns to PMUG to present his tips, and over 80 URLs, for planning travel excursions online. His tips include advice on finding the fastest and most economical transportation and advice for planning activities, meals and lodging.

Joel May has spent most of his adult life teaching, first at the Graduate School of Business of the University of Chicago and, subsequently, at the School of Public Health of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He holds a BS degree in Economics from Albright College and an MBA and PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. He's been using computers since 1961, the Internet since 1974, PCs since 1979, and the World Wide Web since 1994. Joel is a popular computer teacher for The Ewing SeniorNet Computer Literacy Center, 55Plus of Princeton, and various senior citizen groups around central New Jersey.

LeVitus, often referred to as "Dr. Mac,", has been considered one of the world's leading authorities on the Macintosh and Mac OS for nearly twenty years.

LeVitus has sold millions of books worldwide. His recent titles include: &QUOT;Mac OS X Leopard For Dummies&QUOT;, &QUOT;The Home & Away Guide to Traveling with Technology&QUOT;, &QUOT;Office 2008 for Mac For Dummies&QUOT;, and &QUOT;iPhone For Dummies&QUOT;. He also writes columns for the Houston Chronicle newspaper, MacDesign magazine, and Mac Observer Website.

Also about the presenter...

In 2004, LeVitus started Doctor Mac Direct LLC, a company that provides expert technical help and training to Mac users via phone, e-mail, and/or Internet-enabled remote control software. You can also visit Bob's own website.

Dean Acquaviva will describe using Reunion Genealogy Software to keep genealogical records and give tips on using the Internet to research family genealogy. He will explain the places and resources available for genealogists to research and collect documentation of their family lineage.

Then Jan Williams will speak on environmentally harmful parts and chemicals in computers/consumer electronics, and how to responsibly reuse and recycle them.

March 18, 2008 (the third Tuesday) — Tips for using Apple's .Mac service and iWeb Website editing program.

Bruce Klayman, Apple's representative at Best Buy in Princeton, will share tips on using Apple's online products .Mac and iWeb, including information on iDisk, Web Gallery, publishing web sites with iWeb and using .Mac for synchronizing Apple computers.
About the presenter...

Bruce Klayman, a native of Philadelphia, has worked for Apple since 2003 and is well known in the area for his expertise at Best Buy in Princeton. He is a valuable resource and veteran active participant in Princeton's Macintosh Users Group.

February 12, 2008 - Trade Show Reports: Macworld Expo, CES, PMA

Three major trade shows were held this January: Macworld Expo 2008 (the largest Mac-specific show in the world) in San Francisco, the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and PMA 08 (the Photo Marketing Association's annual trade show, the largest photo-specific trade show in the U.S.) in Las Vegas.

The three events showcase the latest electronics, software, and photography products you will find on sale in the months ahead.

PMUG members Maria O. Arguello, Lila Symons, and Bill Achuff attended the shows and will share with us what they saw and heard.

About the presenters...

Maria O. Arguello is a PMUG member who enjoys all things Macintosh and publishes reviews in The Dialog, the Princeton Macintosh Users Group monthly publication. Maria is the Apple User Group Regional Liaison for the Northeast United States (CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT). Maria will walk you through the activities sponsored by the Apple User Group Advisory Board (AUGAB) for Macworld Expo, San Francisco '08.

Bill Achuff covers CES and PMA, as a reporter and photographer, and plans to attend both shows each year. Although Apple's presence at the two shows is limited, the new technologies introduced, particularly at CES, will eventually impact the lives of any consumer who uses electronic devices. Bill is a freelance photojournalist and photographer.

Lila Symons, a graphic designer in New York City, will describe attending her first Macworld Expo. Lila has been a member of PMUG for over 5 years.

The term "Web 2.0" groups together several new Internet technology concepts. It is the next stage of the Web: a step up from static, mass-audience, producer-centric Websites. Some Web 2.0 Website characteristics include:

Participation and Collaboration
Anyone who is interested works together to produce software (such as open-source software, of which its code is publicly viewable and modifiable--as long as changes to its resulting code are likewise open and available, SourceForge.net is an example) or a service which can be contributed to and altered by anyone (such as Wikipedia.) The open-source movement can also be found in software for consumer electronics, such as with the Neuros OSD recorder and Google's Android project for mobile phone software.

Sharing and Community Commentary
Anyone can post files for the enjoyment of others, and anyone can comment on them (examples are Flickr for photos, YouTube for videos, and Digg for news.)

Availability
Software, even the type which could previously only run from a computer's hard drive, is run directly from a Web page on any Internet-connected computer. This is known as a Web-based application and software-as-a-service (examples are GMail, Google Docs, Zoho and Ulteo OpenOffice.org.)

Democritization of Content
What desktop publishing software did for printed documents, Web 2.0 does for communication. With easier to use and lower cost programs (some are even free), ordinary people have the means to create and distribute information with online journals (Weblogs/Blogs) for even the most specialized audience, and audio/video material which is automatically received by the user when periodically updated (Podcasts and Videocasts.)

Transformation
One type is tagging: community addition of keywords to documents or images in order to generate customized lists (examples are Flickr for photos, del.icio.us for Website bookmarks, and Last.fm for music.) Another type are mashups: a Web-based program which combines data from multiple sources to preset something new (examples are Google Maps and Yahoo! Pipes.)

Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as "free lunch" and you can find it on the Web. The number of free Web 2.0 services, sites and downloads is multiplying monthly at an astonishing rate in a new era of Internet innovation.

Janie Hermann, Princeton Public Library's Technology Training Librarian, will take you on a tour of some of the hottest free Web-based programs currently available. Everything from system tools to image editors to word processors and much more can all be found online for no cost. This session will ensure you know where to find the newest and most useful tools to keep you on the cutting edge of technology.

PMUG Member Ewa Zak will also give a presentation on her attendance at Apple Expo Paris 2007, held September 25 to 29, 2007.

About the presenter...

Janie Hermann is the Program Coordinator and Technology Training Librarian at Princeton Public Library. She is an active blogger, a participant in social networks, a moderator at WebJunction and an active member of several American Library Association committees.

Janie is the founder of Tuesday Technology Talks at Princeton Public Library, a frequent presenter at library conferences and workshops nationwide, and was recently selected a Library Journal "Mover and Shaker" for the work that she has done in creating the current PPL Tech Center Training Program.